Retail surveillance

Hikvision’s PanoVu products are essential components of solutions in retail, hospitality, transportation and education
Hikvision USA Inc., global supplier of security equipment and solutions, will provide training and demos of its multi-sensor camera technology at ISC East 2018, slated to take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on Nov. 14 and 15.
Product showcase and training session
Hikvision will exhibit from Booth 324 on the show floor on both the days. In addition to...

Opening up new possibilities for competitive video surveillance deployments in retail, restaurant and small business applications, IDIS has launched a compact range of robust, high performance cameras and recorders. The IDIS Compact Solutions series is designed for rapid installations and both single and multi-site roll outs, allowing for the mixing and matching of analogue and IP technologies, making upgrades and system extensions more affordable than ever.
IDIS Compact Solutions
The new line...

Audio over IP pioneer Barix announced that the company has promoted Reto Brader to CEO, following a highly successful tenure as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The change in company leadership correlates with the availability of new products that Barix introduced in 2018, including its award-winning RetailPlayer platform for background music distribution.
Barix appoints Reto as new CEO
The remaining Barix management team, which has worked together effectively for the past several years,...

Despite having a global presence with regional and local support offices in the Americas, Asia, Middle East and across Europe, Hanwha Techwin is very much defined by its Korean heritage. As a global manufacturer of professional video surveillance solutions whose headquarters are in Korea, Hanwha Techwin is proud of the contribution it is making to its country’s reputation for designing, developing and producing quality, innovative products which make a real difference to people’s liv...

March Networks, a global provider of advanced video surveillance and video-based business intelligence solutions, is pleased to announce its complete lineup for Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2018.
In addition to the company’s industry-leading solutions for financial, retail and transportation organisations, March Networks will showcase its newly launched Software as a Service (SaaS) offering for quick service restaurant (QSR) and convenience store (c-store) franchisees, as well as its se...

News

It's no secret that one of the next market segments to see exceptional growth in the United States is somewhat non-traditional: cannabis. The global cannabis market is projected to reach $60 billion by 2024, according to Ameri Research, fueled by the increasing legalisation and decriminalisation across much of the United States.
It is estimated that 22 million pounds of marijuana are grown each year in the United States, with 80 percent coming from California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii and Washington, according to Mother Jones. Unlike other products, this commodity is valuable from the moment the seeds go in the ground to the exchanging of money for end-user products - and at every point in between. Within large greenhouses, 360-degree cameras that show a wide field of view are essential for cannabis protection
From seedlings to selling, securing every point within the supply chain is vital to the assets being distributed, and companies are now realising how lucrative this endeavour can be. Critical to the success of the industry is keeping the merchandise secure and the workers safe. In this article, we explore each part of the supply chain within the cannabis market and address ways of implementing robust security measures.
Plants, fields and greenhouses
This is one industry where money actually grows on trees! When cannabis crops are planted either in greenhouses or in fields, security becomes critical, since the plants themselves are worth a significant amount of money. A single truckload can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so securing the load is crucial to the process
Producers don't want plants stolen – especially high-end varieties that garner a bigger profit when harvested and sold – and the size of the plants make theft a greater possibility. Video surveillance becomes vital at this point and can be used in a variety of ways.
Within large greenhouses, single cameras that can cover a wide expanse of space, such as cameras that offer 360-degree views, are essential and can provide more coverage with less investment overall than traditional narrow field-of-view cameras. Advanced technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones), are also being used in open fields in an effort to protect these plants.
Comprehensive video surveillance becomes the main tool for thwarting cannabis theft and addressing incidents as they arise
Transportation and protection
Once the plants are mature enough to be harvested, they must be transported to a production facility where they are either dried or cured based on the needs of the grower, as well as processed and transformed into edible products to be sold at retail locations.
There are already a range of companies that specialise in keeping these crop yields safe while they are transported: think Brinks armoured transportation used for cash, but for cannabis. A single truckload can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – if not more – so securing the load is crucial to the process. Losing one of these loads can lead to large-scale losses for a producer. Surveillance equipment that can withstand sanitation standards and power-washing is paramount for effective protection
After being transported, cannabis must be processed. In these environments, where strict handling processes are in place, surveillance equipment that can withstand sanitation standards and power-washing is paramount. This requires camera enclosures that are rated for resistance to high-pressure water jets, dust and vandalism/tampering.
Since edible processing requires stringent regulations be followed, it becomes more critical for security managers to identify solutions that carry the NSF Mark, making them compliant with standards set forth for commercial food equipment in North America, or the HCV EU, the equivalent in Europe.
Many of these locations handle and store large amounts of cash since customers have to pay with cash
Retail protection
As the final products come out of processing and go into storefronts to be sold by retailers in States that have recreational or medical facilities, there's another level of security that must be in place to protect these transactions. But careful considerations must be made. Traditional security tags cannot generally be used because of the small size of many of the end products, making it more difficult to track with tracking devices.Traditional security tags cannot generally be used because of the small size of many of the end products
In this instance, comprehensive video surveillance becomes the main tool for thwarting theft and addressing incidents as they arise. In these locations, a loss prevention or security officer has to be an integral part of the team. Another consideration is the careful screening of the potential employees.
Since the federal government doesn't recognise cannabis producers and retailers, banks that are federally insured through the FDIC don't accept money from these establishments, meaning that many of these locations handle and store large amounts of cash since customers have to pay with cash.
There must be security measures in place for these kinds of transactions, including the ability for video surveillance to be played back instantaneously in the event of an incident at a cash register.
The cannabis market comes with a variety of challenges at each and every step of the operation, from growing to transport to production and sales. Video surveillance and business intelligence solutions are ideal for these applications, and as the market grows, more and more security companies will look to cater to the market.

Oncam, a provider of 360-degree video capture and business intelligence technology, announced it was honoured with two awards for its innovative products: Most Innovative Online Solution from the 2018 North American Fraud Awards alongside its partners at Video Analysis Solutions (VAS) and a 2018 Money-Saving Products Award from BUILDINGS Magazine for its new Evolution 180 Indoor Camera. The recognitions demonstrate the company's continued dedication to innovation and the development of technology to address today's greatest security and business challenges.
At the 2018 North American Retail Fraud Awards dinner in May, Oncam and its partner VAS were recognized by Retail Risk for their retail-centric Cloud Searching Dashboard. Oncam and VAS have created a powerful and user-friendly analytics tool that leverages Oncam's high-quality 360-degree video and intuitive VAS analytics to allow store managers and staff to securely log in and view live or recorded images, as well as monitor customer behaviour and provide details on store traffic. The solution offers significant ROI by optimizing store operations, improving customer service and growing sales.
The Evolution 180 range uses a 12MP sensor for high-resolution panoramic video
Evolution 180 Indoor Camera
The Evolution 180 Indoor Camera was recognized in the June 2018 issue of BUILDINGS Magazine for the features it provides building owners and facility managers for life safety and security. The Evolution 180 range uses a 12MP sensor for high-resolution panoramic video. Oncam’s unique Angle Compensation Technology provides adaptive dewarping in the camera, eliminating the need for integration in video management software. The camera is ONVIF Profile S compliant, making it plug-and-play with the leading video management systems on the market today.
“Oncam provides innovation in the products we create, but more than that, our close collaboration with other technology leaders allows us to create solutions that enhance the abilities of our video capture tools to provide valuable insight to end users,” said Jumbi Edulbehram, Regional President – Americas, Oncam. “These awards are an acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of our team and we're honored to be recognized.”
Oncam will showcase its award-winning technology during IFSEC International 2018.

Thefts, fraud and losses from other retail ‘shrink’ decreased to $46.8 billion in 2017 from $48.9 billion the year before as shoplifting and organised retail crime continued to be the leading causes, according to the annual National Retail Security Survey released today by the National Retail Federation and the University of Florida.
“Retailers are making progress in combating criminal activity, but there are still many challenges,” NRF Vice President of Loss Prevention Bob Moraca said.
“Whether the threat is coming from cybersecurity, organised retail crime or employee theft, the job for retail security teams continues to become more difficult every day, especially when resources and staff are limited.”
Shoplifting and organised retail crime were the most frequent causes, accounting for 36 percent of losses
Organised retail crime
According to the report, shrink averaged 1.33 percent of sales, down from 1.44 percent the year before. A total of 59 percent of retailers surveyed said shrink was flat or decreasing, up from 51 percent. Only 41 percent said shrink was growing, down from 49 percent.
Shoplifting and organised retail crime were the most frequent causes, accounting for 36 percent of losses, followed by internal employee theft (33 percent), administrative paperwork errors (19 percent) and vendor fraud or mistake (6 percent).
The most substantial losses per incident came from retail robberies, at an average $4,237.02 each (down from $5,309.72 the year before), followed by employee theft at $1,203.16 (down from $1,922.80) and shoplifting/ORC at $559 (down from $798.48).
Cybersecurity concerns are top-of-mind for retailers today as criminals continue to become more sophisticated in this area"
Combating cybercrime
For the first time in the survey, retailers were asked about their role in combating cybercrime. Two-thirds of LP executives said they meet at least quarterly with IT/cybersecurity counterparts to discuss potential threats, and 86 percent said their companies have a cybersecurity incident response plan in place.
“Cybersecurity concerns are top-of-mind for retailers today as criminals continue to become more sophisticated in this area,” said Richard Hollinger, a veteran University of Florida criminology professor and the lead author of the report. “This is a growing threat that will require more resources going forward. Retail executives need to invest more in loss prevention to reduce these losses to their bottom line.”
The survey of 63 loss prevention and asset protection professionals from a variety of retail sectors was conducted March 14 to April 13. The study is a partnership between Hollinger and NRF and sponsored by Appriss Retail.

As video surveillance has become a common means of protecting businesses and their customers and visitors, scalability of video systems has become a major challenge, both for supporting more types and quantity of cameras and for storing ever-increasing amounts of video data. The new combined solution from NETGEAR and Arcus Global Inc., makes it possible for SMBs — such as cafes, pre-schools, small hotels, independent retailers, small offices, and property management firms, among others — to meet their needs of physical security with minimal investment, effort, and total ownership cost.
ReadyNAS at NETGEAR
“Smaller businesses have to wrestle with video surveillance scalability and data reliability just as large organisations do, but often find that current solutions are too difficult to install, too expensive to acquire, or have too few features and too little capacity,” said Doug Cheung, senior product line manager for ReadyNAS at NETGEAR. “We’re very pleased to team with the Arcus Global team, a recognised innovator in video surveillance, to offer SMBs a seamless, cost-effective solution to this challenge.”
Milestone Arcus on ReadyNAS is a world-class IP video surveillance solution for small and medium size businesses
Milestone Arcus on ReadyNAS is a world-class IP video surveillance solution for small and medium size businesses, ranging from a family retail store with eight cameras to a large residential apartment building with 100 cameras. This unique, ultra-scalable solution offers total protection of business assets and can be set up and in operation within minutes, without additional training.
Milestone Arcus
The free downloadable app runs on all NETGEAR business-class ReadyNAS models, offering:
Support for up to 100 high-definition high frame rate IP cameras, which can be easily expanded through the addition of NETGEAR Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switches to provide power to those cameras at a distance;
Highest storage capacity ranging from two to 60 bays, capable of handling continuous video recording from several weeks to over a year;
Superior data retention with unique five levels of data protection against hardware failures and virus attacks, and hybrid remote NAS and cloud backup for multiple sites. Business users enjoy premium video surveillance features such as automatic camera discovery, PTZ controls, motion detection
Business users enjoy premium video surveillance features such as automatic camera discovery, PTZ controls, motion detection, anywhere access to video feeds for live view and playback, and easy export for forensic evidence and investigation.
Video data retention In addition to performing the video management functions, the ReadyNAS continues to operate as a standard network attached storage solution
In addition to performing the video management functions, the ReadyNAS continues to operate as a standard network attached storage solution. Its full ReadyNAS OS feature set includes ReadyDR (disaster recovery) so businesses can meet the most stringent legal and commercial requirements for video data retention.
NETGEAR offers multiple hardware models of ReadyNAS to meet the performance and storage needs of any SMB. There are desktop and rackmount options with capacity up to 60 bays, supporting extended surveillance video retention, depending on number and type of camera and the duration of time that video data needs to be kept. NETGEAR business-class ReadyNAS models running ReadyNAS OS 6.8 that currently support Milestone Arcus include:
ReadyNAS RN420 Series of Desktop NAS (RN422, RN424, RN426, RN428)
ReadyNAS RN520 Series of Desktop NAS (RN524X, RN526X, RN528X)
ReadyNAS RN620 Series of Desktop NAS (RN626X, RN628X)
ReadyNAS Rackmount (RR2312, RR2304, RN3138, RR3312, RR4312X, RR4360X)
Video security and storage
“NETGEAR is known as a top trusted expert in networking solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, so we’re delighted they’ve chosen to integrate our software with ReadyNAS to provide a highly secured and scalable video protection and storage solution that is truly world-class,” said Lars Nordenlund Frii, CEO of Arcus Global Inc.
Milestone Arcus on ReadyNAS is compatible with the widest selection of IP cameras in the market, numbering into the thousands. This includes the new NETGEAR FlexPower Wire-Free IP Camera (VNC4030), the industry’s first and only wire-free, battery-powered ONVIF compliant camera. HD-quality PIR motion-detected footage captured using a 130-degree wide-angle lens, day and night, offers video security that can fill in blind spots and complement always-on cameras in an existing surveillance system. FlexPower Cameras and the FlexPower Base Station (VNB4000), designed to boost wireless connectivity with a range of up to 300ft, can be paired with Milestone Arcus on ReadyNAS for a complete video security solution.
A camera license from NETGEAR is required to record video captured from the connected IP surveillance cameras
Pricing and availability
A camera license from NETGEAR is required to record video captured from the connected IP surveillance cameras. NETGEAR is offering a one-time 60-day trial license upon activation of Milestone Arcus on ReadyNAS software.
A flexible license policy enables businesses to easily expand the number of licenses or functionality over time, depending upon the number of cameras managed. The number of licenses required is based on per camera connection to the ReadyNAS. NETGEAR is currently offering three 5-year license packages at the following suggested U.S. retail prices:
RNVMSMA1-10000S – ReadyNAS VMS by Milestone Arcus, 1 camera license — $60
RNVMSMA4-10000S – ReadyNAS VMS by Milestone Arcus, 4 camera licenses — $200
RNVMSMA8-10000S – ReadyNAS VMS by Milestone Arcus, 8 camera licenses — $350
NETGEAR FlexPower Camera
Businesses can take advantage of a 5-year solution warranty from NETGEAR and a single point of contact for support.
The NETGEAR FlexPower Camera and Base Station are available now worldwide through authorised NETGEAR partners and other reseller channels and e-commerce sites, at the following suggested U.S. retail prices:
NETGEAR FlexPower ONVIF-Compliant Wire-Free IP Camera (VNC4030) — $229.99
NETGEAR FlexPower Base Station for FlexPower ONVIF-Compliant Cameras (VNB4000) — $99.99

Hanwha Techwin and analytic specialists A.I Tech, have jointly engineered biometrics and retail solutions to enable small retail chains, as well as small outlets such as convenience stores, newsagents and petrol stations, to gain a greater understanding of the type and numbers of people who visit their stores.
Both the cost-effective cameras solutions, which are supplied ready to work out-of-box, are equipped with A.I. Tech video analytics to provide retailers with valuable business intelligence. The advanced intelligence and artificial vision algorithms incorporated into A.I. Tech’s powerful analytics engine have been developed as a result of 25 years experience of designing innovative and intelligent video analysis solutions.The Wisenet AI-Retail-DASH solution takes advantage of the superb quality images captured by the 2 megapixel network Wisenet XND-6010/RET dome camera
Wisenet AI-Retail-DASH
The Wisenet AI-Retail-DASH solution takes advantage of the images captured by the 2 megapixel network Wisenet XND-6010/RET dome camera. It also harnesses the processing power of the chipset at the heart of Wisenet X cameras to enable A.I. Tech’s edge-based video analytics to run onboard the Wisenet XND-6010/RET dome camera.
The Wisenet AI-Retail-DASH solution is available with a number of modules.
AI-PEOPLE can count the number of people who enter a particular area of a store, enabling retailers to judge the effectiveness of in-store promotions, product placement, etc. It does so by detecting the presence of people who cross virtual lines. This module can be configured by store managers in order to meet the specific people counting requirements of individual stores. The direction in which people are walking can be specified and there is no limit to the number of virtual lines which can be set up. With an accuracy of more than 95%, AI-People is not confused by several people crossing a virtual line at the same time or the presence of shopping carts and strollers.
AI-CROWD provides retailers with an estimation of the number of people present in crowded areas where they move slowly or stop, such as at the point of sale.
AI-Overcrowd utilises A.I Tech’s video analytics to alert a store manager if the number of people within a particular area of a store is too high. The number threshold can be changed as often as required.
AI-DASH offers reports on the data analysed by the AI-People, AI-Crowd and AI-Overcrowd modules and stored via an SD card onboard the Wisenet XND-6010/RET dome cameraAI-DASH offers ‘easy on the eye’ reports on the data analysed by the AI-People, AI-Crowd and AI-Overcrowd modules and stored via an SD card onboard the Wisenet XND-6010/RET dome camera. It does so via an intuitive dashboard which can be remotely accessed from a web browser. When multiple cameras are deployed, there is the option to run the dashboard on a server.
Wisenet TNB-6030/BIO Public View Monitor camera
The Wisenet TNB-6030/BIO Public View Monitor camera is intended to be located at store entrances, shopping aisles and check-outs to detect any criminal activity. However, in addition to helping deter and detect shoplifters, the camera is equipped with AI-Bio-DASH which produces an analysis of the age and gender of store visitors.
Using facial detection technology, the AI-Bio-DASH module is ready to be used out-of-box with the Wisenet TNB-6030/BIO and can be linked to digital signage targeted at the person whose image has been captured by the camera, e.g. a young boy or an adult woman.

Edesix, providers of Body Worn Cameras (BWC), will be showcasing its integration to leading Video Management Service (VMS) platforms at IFSEC 2018.
VideoManager software
ONStream integrates Edesix's VideoManager software with existing VMS, traditionally used to showcase fixed IP camera footage. This software enables ONVIF compliant VMSs to display Body Worn Camera footage, allowing live feeds from wearable cameras to appear alongside CCTV footage, meaning captured video can be instantly shared and viewed by security staff.
"Body Worn Cameras have been proven to help improve the safety of those in public facing roles, whilst producing compelling legal evidence when needed," explains Richie McBride, managing director of Edesix.
Body Worn Cameras Fixed security cameras connected to a VMS are a powerful tool for monitoring and securing many different environments, from retail floors to distribution centres"
"One of the most important recent innovations in the BWC market has been the ability to integrate the cameras with existing VMSs, enabling organisations to unify a site's security and monitoring system, and create mobile and first-person viewpoints whilst adding contextual detail to footage.”
"Fixed security cameras connected to a VMS are a powerful tool for monitoring and securing many different environments, from retail floors to distribution centres. This gives security teams the ability to view unparalleled detail of incidents as they unfold. The software furthers the potential of your VMS, protects valued staff, and captures concrete and secure footage for future review. It enables immediate response by security teams and offers reliable footage for later review by supervisors. It also means live streams can be recorded as evidence, which can then be securely shared with third parties, including the police. The service is fully encrypted with audit trails to protect the evidential quality of footage stored."
VideoTag VT-100
Edesix will also be showcasing its new and improved VideoTag VT-100 camera, where the incident recorder meets the Body Worn Camera. The VT-100 is a recording device specifically designed to meet the needs of retailers, lone workers and other public facing businesses. It is similar to the VT-50 incident recorder, which was launched at IFSEC 2017, but with the benefits of greater durability and a longer battery life.
The VT-100 has been proven to deter aggression, protect staff and provide secure evidential-quality footage on demand
The VT-100 has been proven to deter aggression, protect staff and provide secure evidential-quality footage on demand. It is robust and weatherproof, while remaining lightweight, unobtrusive, cost-effective and easy to use. The VT-100 can record up to four hours of continuous footage, requires no extra training, streams live footage if required, and has a standby battery-life of up to six months, meaning users don't need to worry about charging the device often.
McBride comments: "We are delighted to announce the launch of the VideoTag VT-100. The beauty of this product is that it bridges the gap between the smaller incident recorder and the more powerful Body Worn Camera. The VT-100 will allow staff in public-facing roles, who are not always part of the security team, to create a safer working environment for themselves and their colleagues. It offers a cost-effective, secure and practical approach to wearable security for incident recording and workflow management."

Case studies

Videowall technology supplied by Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) is at the heart of a new security control room at iNTU Trafford Centre.
High-end videowall technology
The new facility helps ensure 30 million annual visitors have a safe and enjoyable time at what is the single best-known and most iconic retail and leisure destination in the UK.
Burnley-based UVS, formerly eyevis UK, provides video wall displays and audio-visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK.
UVS Full HD Videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall
As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall, made up of 24 eyevis 55-inch XSN extremely narrow bezel LCD screens with Full HD resolution.
The displays offer 1920 × 1080 pixels, direct-LED backlight technology, a mechanical bezel width of only 3.5 mm between two displays and a brightness of 500 cd/m2. The installation also includes a control room meeting space featuring a videowall made up of four eyevis 46-inch XSN screens with 3.5mm bezel.
Netpix 4900 videowall controller
Both videowalls connect to a Netpix 4900 videowall controller configured for multiple analogue video feeds, IP video feeds, graphic PC data and web browsers.
iNTU security staff, who monitor the centre and liaise with visitors, will be able to send live videos from their tablets directly back to the video wall to share incident video with security staff.
Video monitoring and visitor management
iNTU Trafford Centre is a retail and leisure destination and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology"
UVS managing director Steve Murphy said: “iNTU Trafford Centre is a retail and leisure destination enjoyed by millions of people each year and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology.” He adds, “We are delighted to have been involved in such a prestigious and important project.”
Lee Barlow, Security Manager, iNTU Trafford Centre said “The security and safety of our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority so having a control room that allows us to keep them safe is really important. The new videowall and meeting room screens allows us to do just that and we are really happy with them.”
New control room with videowall
The new control room was designed and refurbished by Intech Solutions, which specialise in technical and control room furniture including full control room fit-outs in the UK and worldwide.
UVS also worked to deliver the videowall with its security integrator partner, Nottinghamshire-based Quadrant Security Group.

Lodge Security is to provide protection for Poundland stores and distribution centres throughout the UK. Over the past two years Lodge Security has been operating its Elite Store Detective programme from the LodgIC Intelligence Centre, where national and local data on crime incidents is analysed and used to deploy protection to produce the maximum return on security investment.
Sarah Frain, Profit Protection & Assurance manager, Distribution and CSC at Poundland, says: "Lodge Security has worked with Poundland for more than 5 years and has provided a great service which has now developed with technology additions to achieve an even more effective solution. The operatives we receive from Lodge are always highly trained and professional when dealing with day-to-day issues and figures are reported back clearly to management. Furthermore, they provide confidence to our staff whilst making them feel safe and secure in the workplace.”
Analysing the patterns of criminal activity
Poundland and Lodge are now examining new opportunities to deploy other technology that is available from the intelligence centre. This includes the capability to analyse retail transactions through the use of Transpeye for data mining of EPoS, online transactions and other store systems, to then identify any sources of loss in real time and the relationships between apparently isolated incidents.
Lodge can analyse and track any patterns of criminal activity to enable the investigative team to attribute recurring losses to known criminals and gangs
Lodge can then analyse and track any patterns of criminal activity, to enable the investigative team to attribute recurring losses to known criminals and gangs, who can be identified from in-store CCTV recordings. Perpetrators are then stopped in-store by Lodge Security detectives.
Preventing organised retail crime
In many instances Lodge has been able to track a gang’s activity around the UK and assess the probability of where and when they might strike next.
“Retailers are increasingly alert to the scale of the threat from Organised Retail Crime. A string of small, seemingly unrelated criminal acts are often committed by the same gang; if they think they can get away undetected each time they will keep coming back.
“Through the blended use of our specialist teams in the field and technology, our intelligence centre is quickly able to map related losses and then stop them fast,” says Stuart Lodge, CEO of Lodge Service International, a third generation family-run business that celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019.

As Philadelphia beat New England at U.S. Bank Stadium, fans were able to enjoy the spectacle safely, in part thanks to Lenel. As the host of major national and international events, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota counts on Lenel to provide advanced security systems that help protect fans attending some of the world’s leading sporting events and concerts.
Lenel is part of UTC Climate Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. Working in such a high-profile venue, Lenel teams are constantly adjusting systems to maintain a high-level of security.
Lenel’s OnGuard security management system has been a vital hub in the $1.12 billion stadium’s comprehensive, layered security plan since the first event in July 2016. In addition to major events, which can hold 66,000 people, the stadium routinely hosts a range of other activities for area residents such as college baseball, distance running and inline skating.
The Lenel team helped us create a comprehensive system that works exactly as we drew it up"
Integrated security
Bill Langenstein, director of event services for U.S. Bank Stadium venue manager SMG, said OnGuard’s integration of systems helps defuse potentially dangerous situations.
“I don’t know of another platform capable of integrating the number and size of disparate systems we have in this stadium,” Langenstein said. “The Lenel team helped us create a comprehensive system that works exactly as we drew it up. The result is we are more efficient and proactive.”
The OnGuard system acts as the single platform integrating access control with:
More than 400 surveillance cameras monitoring seating areas, concourses and exterior perimeters
Visitor management systems checking identifies at delivery gates
Video intercoms protecting doors on high-value rooms
More than 250 intrusion system alarm points protecting retail shops and ticket windows
A real-time incident management system safeguarding attendees and staff
Incidents such as an altercation in the stands or a door improperly left open generates a real-time alert for the security team"Pre-defined alerts
Alex Housten, Vice President and General Manager of Fire & Security Products – Americas, said the incident management integration was critical as it provides stadium security with pre-defined alerts from all systems. Alerts are received in the command centres or on smartphones or tablets carried by patrolling guards.
“Incidents such as an altercation in the stands or a door improperly left open generates a real-time alert for the security team,” Housten said. “The OnGuard system helps guards take immediate action. And with the entry of a few keywords, other types of events can be added to the alert list.”
Secure viewing experience
Housten credited the Lenel Custom Solutions Group with seamlessly integrating the incident management system with the OnGuard platform. The group designs, develops and delivers software solutions to create custom solutions often by automating third-party integrations.
Langenstein said it’s vital that his team be able to perform their duties at the highest standard as many stadium events draw tens of thousands of fans and millions more television viewers.
“We strive to execute our jobs flawlessly,” he said. “It helps to be on the cutting edge of technology. With the Lenel integration, we know we’ll be ready to provide a memorable and secure experience no matter what type of event guests attend at U.S. Bank Stadium.”

Dahua Technology, manufacturer and supplier of video surveillance products provides its patented HDCVI solution to secure Lulu Hypermarket in Muscat, Oman. Lulu Hypermarket is a hypermarket chain and retail venture started by Lulu Group International in 2000. It has over 30,000 employees of various nationalities.
Lulu Hypermarket is one of the largest retail chains in Asia and is the biggest in the Middle East, with 115 outlets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and one in Kochi, India. It is amongst the world’s 50 fastest growing retailers, according to research firm Deloitte.
Dahua’s security solution
Dahua provided HDCVI technology to secure the branch of Lulu Hypermarket in Muscat with cooperation from its system integrator China Communications Services. This is the first time that Dahua and China Communications Services have cooperated for an entire CCTV project. The two teams’ deep experience in CCTV resulted in a smooth and successful implementation for Lulu.
Lulu mainly used Dahua HDCVI Professional series products, including HDCVI cameras, HDCVI DVRs, VMS, IP storage, video wall, etc. Around 250 HDCVI cameras, including bullet, dome and PTZ, were provided by Dahua. A video wall display unit was used in the control centre and IP SAN storage devices are used to meet 90 days recording requirements.Dahua appreciated the teamwork with China Communications Services, which made the project successful and was happily accepted by Lulu Hypermarket"
Dahua HDCVI Professional series adopts the patented DH5000 chipset and high-performance CMOS sensor. The camera retains the ease-of-use of an analogue system while offering up to 1080P HD video output. Pro series is suitable for the users who want to secure small-and-medium-scale applications like airports, hospitals, schools, upscale hotels or banks.
Collaborations for success
"HDCVI is Dahua-patented technology featuring HD analogue video transmission over coaxial cable, allowing reliable long-distance HD transmission at lower cost. As for the Lulu Hypermarket, we provided our HDCVI professional series products to protect the whole market,” said Rio Mao, Sales Director of APAC at Dahua Technology. “Dahua appreciated the teamwork with China Communications Services, which made the project successful and was happily accepted by Lulu Hypermarket. We are obviously looking for further cooperation with China Communications Services for more projects.”
"We really appreciate this great support from Dahua, and we have more confidence to work with Dahua together in the whole Middle East market,” said Zhu Linghua, Manager of Overseas Department at China Communications Services. “I believe we can achieve more mutually-beneficial project starts from this successful case and continue cooperation with each other in the near future.”

With over 60 years of fashion retailing experience, River Island is a well-known brand on the UK High Street. Renowned for its stylish, affordable fashion, its customers can always rely on River Island for great going-out looks and occasion wear. It prides itself on being the perfect store to pick up everything for a brand new head-to-toe look. Almost all of its products are designed in-house and, with one of the largest design teams on the High Street, it is proud to bring original new fashion in-store and online for its customers every single week. River Island has more than 350 stores, plus a network of offices and warehouses across the UK, Ireland and internationally throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe. As with many retail brands with multiple, widely dispersed stores, surveillance capability across the River Island network had evolved organically over many years on a site-by-site basis as the business expanded.IDIS FEN enables easy remote access without the need for advanced IT knowledge
Resilient network security
The wholly IP-enabled IDIS DirectIP solution being rolled out by River Island includes a mix of HD cameras (between 7 and 30 per store), network video recorders and licence-free IDIS Centre video management software with five stores and a logistics centre now complete. Designed with robust, resilient network security in mind, the solution eliminates any complexity, making it extremely easy for in-store staff to operate. DirectIP utilises true plug-and-play functionality with implicit pairing of devices, reducing the amount of information that River Island needs to manage.
The solution incorporates IDIS FEN (For Every Network) technology, which means that multi-site changes can be easily and simply managed from a single point. Used with all IDIS NVRs, FEN is an automated network configuration service that simplifies installation of networked surveillance systems. It also enables easy remote access without the need for advanced IT knowledge and requires no static IP addressing. As a result, a highly robust, resilient surveillance capability can operate 24/7, with updates automatically made with minimal additional resource required.River Island scoped its specification for a futureproof system that would be easy to install, cost-effective to run, easy to operate and simple to maintain
From analogue to IP-enabled systems
To dramatically update and improve its CCTV surveillance, River Island decided to transition from legacy analogue systems to an IP-enabled approach. Historically, each store’s CCTV had run as a stand-alone system. This made it increasingly difficult for the business to operate, maintain and upgrade the surveillance systems efficiently, and in the event of an incident a security operative would physically need to visit each store to retrieve footage. Furthermore, it limited scope to introduce next-generation features that could drive value. With the decision to manage a phased introduction, River Island scoped its specification for a futureproof system that would be easy to install, cost-effective to run, easy to operate and simple to maintain with responsive customer service. To deliver easily retrievable high-definition images fast, the solution had to include IP cameras, network video recorders and video management software. The solution would need to provide reliable 24/7 cover for strategic locations, including entrance doors, stairwells and transaction areas throughout each store.
Advanced analytics and facial recognition
Combining the most cutting-edge surveillance technologies with advanced analytics and unparalleled ease of use, the solution is meeting all expectations. Simple and fast to install, it delivers robust performance with high-image quality, super-intuitive ease-of-use that requires no specialist expertise, superb operational efficiency and responsive local support. Highly cost-effective, it also gives River Island the futureproof capability to integrate new features such as facial recognition and advanced analytics.
"We’ve been really impressed with the IDIS solution that we have now standardised on IDIS for all future store upgrades and fit outs. Representing a low total cost of ownership, it’s easy to use and is enabling us to manage surveillance more efficiently. Furthermore, it’s given us the futureproof capability to introduce new features and upgrades as our security requirements evolve," said Michelle Douglas, National Safety & Loss Manager at River Island.

Renowned worldwide for its classic couture, fragrances and cosmetics, this company is a global brand in fashion and cosmetics for over decades. It has been selling its luxury goods worldwide through more than 120 boutiques, and specialty outlets, as well as online. The UK retail sector is a major market for the company. Positioned at the top end of the luxury segment, perfume and cosmetics sales account for a significant share of sales in the UK. Rukey Solutions Ltd., a London-based security systems integrator has been attending the fashion brand’s Croydon Logistics site, responding to call outs and ultimately securing assets by repairing the legacy CCTV system for several years. The Rukey team had an astute ability for understanding the fashions house’s logistical needs and regularly offered technical suggestions on how the existing security system could be improved. In January 2017, when the ageing CCTV infrastructure began to experience major hardware failures, which threatened to compromise the security and safety of the supply chain premises, Rukey Solutions was approached to discuss viable upgrade options.The solution also includes fish-eye cameras with Smart UX Controls software
Smart UX surveillance
As part of the transition from a legacy CCTV to a smart surveillance system, Rukey designed a hybrid solution customised around a core base platform with new IDIS equipment and cameras. This solution neatly combines analogue and IP technologies, managed seamlessly through the IDIS Center video management software. A mix of approximately 100 new IDIS cameras were integrated, including Direct IP and HD TVI Direct CX models. The solution also includes fish-eye cameras with Smart UX Controls software developed by IDIS to provide unparalleled accuracy and ease of use. Featuring intuitive ‘Slingshot’ and ‘Rubberband’ style controls, these features allow the security team to easily follow moving objects in real-time with groundbreaking accuracy. Simple click-and-drag actions enable operators to quickly focus targets and track objects.
With silky-smooth PTZ control and rapid response speeds with no latency, this highly effective tool is invaluable for monitoring the movement of individual items, ensuring a hassle-free experience for operators and the ability to respond rapidly to an incident or threat or unauthorised movement of stock.Rukey provided a clear and concise vision of what could be achieved to restore the ageing system to a workable state
Safeguarding high-value stock
Safeguarding the supply chain stock of high-value stock is paramount and Rukey Solutions and the logistics security team discussed at length what component parts of the legacy security system were failing and compromising stock safety. Rukey provided a clear and concise vision of what could be achieved to restore the ageing system to a workable state and ultimately safeguard stock. Following this Rukey Solutions was given the go ahead by to install specific components to restore functionality to the existing CCTV system. However, the security manager at Croydon had believed for some time that the legacy system lacked user functionality, with limited features on offer to review footage of incidents, which made investigations laborious and time consuming. Rukey discussed at length the features the logistics centre required to ensure timely review of incidents such as smart searches, zoom facilities, video pop-ups, object searches and greater storage capacity as well as greater image resolution and suggested a migration from analogue to full HD.The IDIS solution is robust, efficient, and reliable and has revolutionised investigations Efficient investigations
Understanding these requirements, Rukey suggested a visit to the IDIS European HQ in London to view the various types of IP cameras and network video recorders (NVRs) available. IDIS provided a customer focused hands-on experience, using the suite of solutions and demonstrated the many features IDIS had to offer, as well as giving the logistics security team the opportunity to speak with the IDIS technical team to answer any queries.
The logistics centre team at Croydon has now been using the IDIS solution for over four months and they are delighted with their strategy to choose Rukey Solutions as their security partner and IDIS as their manufacturer of choice. The IDIS solution is robust, efficient, and reliable and has revolutionised the way the security team carries out investigations.
Round-the-clock support
The 24/7 support provided by Rukey, complimented by the IDIS technical team, has been second to none. The fashion house has now decided to strategise this surveillance solution, as standard, based on the Rukey and IDIS partnership, and will soon be rolling out similar solutions in their London-based boutiques.
"With the introduction of innovative IDIS cameras and software, Rukey Solutions has been extremely effective in overcoming our challenges. It has exceeded expectations and restored our trust in surveillance to safeguard the fashion house’s valuable goods. Furthermore, it gives us the futureproof capability we need to continuously strengthen our security requirements as they evolve,” said Graham Gibbs, Security Manager Retail & Operations at Croydon Logistics Ltd.